CV Minute

Cabinet Vision Mastery: Bruce Chezem on Industry Innovation and Education

Bruce Chezem — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 00:38:23 +0000

Cabinet Vision Mastery: Bruce Chezem on Industry Innovation and Education Bruce Chezem Sun, 10/19/2025 - 17:38

This week, we chat with Bruce Chezem, a Cabinet Vision consultant trainer and advocate at Craftsman Woodworks Engineering service. Bruce shares his journey from a young woodworker in California to a prominent figure in the cabinet vision software industry. Learn about his career switch from firefighting to woodworking, his transition to software engineering, and how he became a consultant for Cabinet Vision. Bruce discusses training methods, consulting services, and the importance of integrating software tools in cabinet shops. Don't miss his insights on estimating with Cabinet Vision and the significance of documenting processes and building a strong team.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:53 Bruce Chezem's Early Career in Woodworking
04:56 Transition to Software and Cabinet Vision
07:16 Opening Craftsman Woodworks and the Impact of the Recession
11:09 Current Work and Consulting Services
15:09 Challenges and Solutions in Cabinet Vision
22:41 The Database Dilemma
23:34 Integrating Cabinet Vision with Business
24:18 Simplifying Processes with Cabinet Vision
28:49 Estimating with Cabinet Vision
29:22 The Cost Plus Bid Center
34:06 The Cabinet Vision Minute Podcast
40:26 Advice for Mill Workshops
44:02 Contact Information and Closing Remarks

Don't forget to subscribe https://tinyurl.com/5n6zukxe to the A Cabinet Vision Minute YouTube channel.

Creating a Cabinet Vision job in 40 steps https://craftsmanengineering.com/blog/creating-and-documenting-job-cabinet-vision-40-steps

Visit Essential Cabinet Vision Packages, our online store for data sets and packages https://shop.craftsmanengineering.com/

Get membership based exclusive Cabinet Vision How-To videos and other content by Craftsman Engineering on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/PeelingBackCabinetVision

Video Author

Duckworks Millwork Solutions

Video Tags

CV Minute

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Cabinet Vision On The Road

Bruce Chezem — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 18:28:53 +0000

Cabinet Vision On The Road Bruce Chezem Fri, 08/29/2025 - 11:28

Episode Number

092

Bruce explains the benefits of using GoToMyPC for Cabinet Vision users.

Find the Essential Cabinet Vision Packages online store here https://shop.craftsmanengineering.com

CHAPTERS:

2:06 What is GoToMyPC
3:39 Work like normal
6:20 Pricing

Don't forget to subscribe https://tinyurl.com/5n6zukxe to the A Cabinet Vision Minute YouTube channel.

Creating a Cabinet Vision job in 40 steps https://craftsmanengineering.com/blog/creating-and-documenting-job-cabinet-vision-40-steps

Our online store for Cabinet Vision data sets and packages https://shop.craftsmanengineering.com/

Get membership based exclusive Cabinet Vision How-To videos and other content by Craftsman Engineering on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/PeelingBackCabinetVision

Video Author

Craftsman Woodworks Engineering

Video Tags

CV Minute

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Fixing Overlapping Cabinets

Bruce Chezem — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 18:03:15 +0000

Fixing Overlapping Cabinets Bruce Chezem Fri, 06/20/2025 - 11:03

Episode Number

091

Bruce unwraps the mystery of an error message that creeps up from time to time in Cabinet Vision jobs...

"Error Numbering Cabinets, check for overlapping Cabinets"

But what does that error tell us? Did I do something wrong to cause an error? How do I check for overlapping Cabinets? What is an overlapping cabinet?

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Intro

00:27 What does the error mean?

01:06 Run a Cabinet List report

02:40 Examine each wall elevation

03:05 Found it!

04:20 Chinese characters

[This video may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase via an affiliate link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you]

Don't forget to subscribe https://tinyurl.com/5n6zukxe

Creating a Cabinet Vision job in 40 steps https://craftsmanengineering.com/blog/creating-and-documenting-job-cabinet-vision-40-steps

Our online store for Cabinet Vision data sets and packages https://shop.craftsmanengineering.com/

Exclusive Cabinet Vision How-To videos and other content by Craftsman Engineering on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/PeelingBackCabinetVision

Rev-A-Shelf https://tinyurl.com/f3c4e7ek

Richelieu Hardware https://tinyurl.com/2k3e3uet

Blum https://tinyurl.com/5n73udsy

Construction Monitor - Best source for leads....ever https://tinyurl.com/3nu7562e

3D Warehouse - Lots of Cabinet Vision Sketchup models for import https://tinyurl.com/47ecykr3

Solid Setup Plus...lots of great Cabinet Vision packages - https://tinyurl.com/yvdbjcyr

CV App Store...more great Cabinet Vision packages - https://tinyurl.com/bdf99dt5

Allmoxy - Sell cabinets, doors and drawers online - https://tinyurl.com/4h22dj75

VORTEK Spaces - 3D walkthroughs of Cabinet Vision jobs...so cool https://tinyurl.com/23ykzp4f

Video Author

Craftsman Woodworks Engineering

Video Tags

CV Minute

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Salice Silentia Overlay Hinge Selector

Bruce Chezem — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:01:32 +0000

Salice Silentia Overlay Hinge Selector Bruce Chezem Thu, 06/12/2025 - 17:01

Episode Number

090

Bruce shows the benefits of using the Salice Silentia Overlay Hinge Selector package which makes easy work of picking the correct Salice Silentia hinge....so easy, in fact, it does all the spec'ing for you.

Designed for cabinet refacing ( fitting existing face frame cabinets with new overlay doors ), this widget assigns the proper Salice Silentia 106 degree Overlay soft close hinge given the desired reveals and existing face frame stiles and mullions widths.

The package works by assigning hinges to doors with overlays ranging from 3/8" to 1 9/16" in increments of 1/16". Overlays of doors and the matching hinge selected for that door is driven by a desired reveal for that door or pair of doors.

The package is available in Craftsman Engineering's Online Store for Cabinet Vision Add On's, Packages, and Tutorials.

[This video may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase via an affiliate link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you]

Don't forget to subscribe https://tinyurl.com/5n6zukxe

Creating a Cabinet Vision job in 40 steps https://craftsmanengineering.com/blog/creating-and-documenting-job-cabinet-vision-40-steps

Our online store for Cabinet Vision data sets and packages https://shop.craftsmanengineering.com/

Exclusive Cabinet Vision How-To videos and other content by Craftsman Engineering on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/PeelingBackCabinetVision

Rev-A-Shelf https://tinyurl.com/f3c4e7ek

Richelieu Hardware https://tinyurl.com/2k3e3uet

Blum https://tinyurl.com/5n73udsy

Construction Monitor - Best source for leads....ever https://tinyurl.com/3nu7562e

3D Warehouse - Lots of Cabinet Vision Sketchup models for import https://tinyurl.com/47ecykr3

Solid Setup Plus...lots of great Cabinet Vision packages - https://tinyurl.com/yvdbjcyr

CV App Store...more great Cabinet Vision packages - https://tinyurl.com/bdf99dt5

Allmoxy - Sell cabinets, doors and drawers online - https://tinyurl.com/4h22dj75

VORTEK Spaces - 3D walkthroughs of Cabinet Vision jobs...so cool https://tinyurl.com/23ykzp4f

Show Notes

The package is available in Craftsman Engineering's Online Store for Cabinet Vision Add On's, Packages, and Tutorials.

Video Author

Craftsman Woodworks Engineering

Video Tags

CV Minute

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Using REPORT GROUPS to organize all your reports

Bruce Chezem — Fri, 02 May 2025 15:16:03 +0000

Using REPORT GROUPS to organize all your reports Bruce Chezem Fri, 05/02/2025 - 08:16

Episode Number

089

I use Report Groups to keep all my reports organized by the departments in my business. This helps me send reports to those departments that need only specific reports. And it helps keep my reports organized so I don't spend time searching for a specific report.

For example, I created report groups for each of these departments... Purchasing, Assembly, Shipping, Staging, Customer Service, Milling, Door Department, Estimating, and Engineering.

In each departmental Report Group, I selected sets of reports that are important and necessary for that department. For example, our Purchasing department needs to have the Material Summary w/Kits ( Grouped ) report and they need the custom buyout door report for CalDoor.

One of my personal "best practices" is that when I print anything from Cabinet Vision, I always print to a pdf file instead of sending reports directly to the printer. And I send the pdf print files to the appropriate job folder or estimate folder.

[This video may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase via an affiliate link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you]

Don't forget to subscribe https://tinyurl.com/5n6zukxe

Creating a Cabinet Vision job in 40 steps https://craftsmanengineering.com/blog/creating-and-documenting-job-cabinet-vision-40-steps

Our online store for Cabinet Vision data sets and packages https://shop.craftsmanengineering.com/

Exclusive Cabinet Vision How-To videos and other content by Craftsman Engineering on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/PeelingBackCabinetVision

Rev-A-Shelf https://tinyurl.com/f3c4e7ek

Richelieu Hardware https://tinyurl.com/2k3e3uet

Blum https://tinyurl.com/5n73udsy

Construction Monitor - Best source for leads....ever https://tinyurl.com/3nu7562e

3D Warehouse - Lots of Cabinet Vision Sketchup models for import https://tinyurl.com/47ecykr3

Solid Setup Plus...lots of great Cabinet Vision packages - https://tinyurl.com/yvdbjcyr

CV App Store...more great Cabinet Vision packages - https://tinyurl.com/bdf99dt5

Allmoxy - Sell cabinets, doors and drawers online - https://tinyurl.com/4h22dj75

VORTEK Spaces - 3D walkthroughs of Cabinet Vision jobs...so cool https://tinyurl.com/23ykzp4f

Video Author

Craftsman Woodworks Engineering

Video Tags

CV Minute

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How I place an island accurately the first time

Bruce Chezem — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 22:00:04 +0000

How I place an island accurately the first time Bruce Chezem Tue, 02/11/2025 - 14:00

Episode Number

085

Episode 85 - Bruce shares his technique - using CAD tools - for placing an island in a kitchen.

CHAPTERS:

00:36 Layout the perimeter walls

03:58 Plan view CAD (F7)

06:43 Digital chalk marks

10:30 Snap island walls ( peninsula walls ) in place

[This video may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase via an affiliate link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you]

Don't forget to subscribe https://tinyurl.com/5n6zukxe

Creating a Cabinet Vision job in 40 steps https://craftsmanengineering.com/blog/creating-and-documenting-job-cabinet-vision-40-steps

Our online store for Cabinet Vision data sets and packages https://shop.craftsmanengineering.com/

Exclusive Cabinet Vision How-To videos and other content by Craftsman Engineering on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/PeelingBackCabinetVision

Rev-A-Shelf https://tinyurl.com/f3c4e7ek

Richelieu Hardware https://tinyurl.com/2k3e3uet

Blum https://tinyurl.com/5n73udsy

Construction Monitor - Best source for leads....ever https://tinyurl.com/3nu7562e

3D Warehouse - Lots of Cabinet Vision Sketchup models for import https://tinyurl.com/47ecykr3

Solid Setup Plus...lots of great Cabinet Vision packages - https://tinyurl.com/yvdbjcyr

CV App Store...more great Cabinet Vision packages - https://tinyurl.com/bdf99dt5

Allmoxy - Sell cabinets, doors and drawers online - https://tinyurl.com/4h22dj75

VORTEK Spaces - 3D walkthroughs of Cabinet Vision jobs...so cool https://tinyurl.com/23ykzp4f

Video Author

Craftsman Woodworks Engineering

Video Tags

CV Minute

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Taking Your Business to the Next Level in 2025

Bruce Chezem — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 17:25:24 +0000

Taking Your Business to the Next Level in 2025 Bruce Chezem Fri, 01/31/2025 - 09:25

Episode Number

084

Cabinet Vision Regional Sales Representative Spencer Baker joins Bruce on this episode 84 of a Cabinet Vision Minute. Spencer and Bruce talk about strategies, tips and just plain interesting stuff about how you can "up your game" in 2025.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Intro

01:24 Chattin' it up about taking advantage of Cabinet Vision and CV resources and integrations

03:45 Identify your "Pain Points"

10:52 Explore Your Options - What can I do to expand my Cabinet Vision horizons?

23:05 What is the "payback" for an investment in new or additional resources?

36:40 How can I "turn this ship" and "make it happen" and "stick with it"?

43:00 Get in touch with Spencer and/or Bruce

[This video may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase via an affiliate link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you]

Don't forget to subscribe https://tinyurl.com/5n6zukxe

Creating a Cabinet Vision job in 40 steps https://craftsmanengineering.com/blog/creating-and-documenting-job-cabinet-vision-40-steps

Our online store for Cabinet Vision data sets and packages https://shop.craftsmanengineering.com/

Exclusive Cabinet Vision How-To videos and other content by Craftsman Engineering on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/PeelingBackCabinetVision

Rev-A-Shelf https://tinyurl.com/f3c4e7ek

Richelieu Hardware https://tinyurl.com/2k3e3uet

Blum https://tinyurl.com/5n73udsy

Construction Monitor - Best source for leads....ever https://tinyurl.com/3nu7562e

3D Warehouse - Lots of Cabinet Vision Sketchup models for import https://tinyurl.com/47ecykr3

Solid Setup Plus...lots of great Cabinet Vision packages - https://tinyurl.com/yvdbjcyr

CV App Store...more great Cabinet Vision packages - https://tinyurl.com/bdf99dt5

Allmoxy - Sell cabinets, doors and drawers online - https://tinyurl.com/4h22dj75

VORTEK Spaces - 3D walkthroughs of Cabinet Vision jobs...so cool https://tinyurl.com/23ykzp4f

Video Author

Craftsman Woodworks Engineering

Video Tags

CV Minute

Comments

Taking Your Business to the Next Level

Great Content!

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Hinges and Hinge Base plates

Bruce Chezem — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 22:07:16 +0000

Hinges and Hinge Base plates Bruce Chezem Wed, 11/06/2024 - 14:07

Episode Number

083

Replace this with what this video is about...

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

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CHAPTERS:

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[This video may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase via an affiliate link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you]

Don't forget to subscribe https://tinyurl.com/5n6zukxe

Creating a Cabinet Vision job in 40 steps https://craftsmanengineering.com/blog/creating-and-documenting-job-cabinet-vision-40-steps

Our online store for Cabinet Vision data sets and packages https://shop.craftsmanengineering.com/

Exclusive Cabinet Vision How-To videos and other content by Craftsman Engineering on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/PeelingBackCabinetVision

Rev-A-Shelf https://tinyurl.com/f3c4e7ek

Richelieu Hardware https://tinyurl.com/2k3e3uet

Blum https://tinyurl.com/5n73udsy

Construction Monitor - Best source for leads....ever https://tinyurl.com/3nu7562e

3D Warehouse - Lots of Cabinet Vision Sketchup models for import https://tinyurl.com/47ecykr3

Solid Setup Plus...lots of great Cabinet Vision packages - https://tinyurl.com/yvdbjcyr

CV App Store...more great Cabinet Vision packages - https://tinyurl.com/bdf99dt5

Allmoxy - Sell cabinets, doors and drawers online - https://tinyurl.com/4h22dj75

VORTEK Spaces - 3D walkthroughs of Cabinet Vision jobs...so cool https://tinyurl.com/23ykzp4f

Video Author

Craftsman Woodworks Engineering

Video Tags

CV Minute

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Composite Materials

Bruce Chezem — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 20:24:01 +0000

Composite Materials Bruce Chezem Thu, 10/03/2024 - 13:24

Episode Number

081

For most cabinet jobs, off the shelf materials suit us well…3/4” Prefinished Hard Rock Maple, ¾” White Melamine, 13/16” Rift Cut White Oak…for example. Sourcing these materials from our material vendors is usually as easy as placing an order with the vendor.

However, there are some materials that might give us cause for serious head scratching.

Let’s say, for example, this HPL kitchen is spec’d for a custom laminate for the casework exterior and yet another custom laminate for the doors.

Let’s have a look at the spec sheet…

Cabinet Exterior - PL2 - Nevamar Graphite Blue S3023-T Vertical Grade

Exterior Edge Banding - EB1 - Nevamar Graphite Blue S3023-T 1mm PVC

Cabinet Interior PL3 - Wilsonart Frosty White 1573-60 Vertical Grade

Interior Edge Banding - EB2 - White PVC - 1mm

Slab Doors Exterior - PL1 - Formica Weathered Fiberboard 8914 SKU: FO-8914-NG 4x8 VT

Slab Door Edge Banding - EB3 - Same as PL1 ( Laminate Slitter )

Slab Door Interior - PL3 - Wilsonart Frosty White 1573-60 Vertical Grade

How many different ways can we plan for this job and which one is the “best” way for us to do this in our shop?

Considerations are:

How many unique laminate material specifications are there for this job?

In other words and for example let’s say we have ¾” MDF core doors with vertical grade, grained, laminate ( PL2 ) on the exterior side and vertical grade white laminate on the interior ( PL3 ). And the cases are frameless ¾” laminates sandwiching MDF cores with applied doors as finished ends . They are ¾” MDF with vertical grade laminate exterior ( PL1) as applied doors on both sides. And the interior of the cases are plain white melamine.

What will the material schedules look like?

Will we call out “pseudo materials” and generic materials or will we be very specific using brand name SKUs and naming conventions?

Are we going to buy materials already laid up….pre laminated or will we lay up all the laminated panel stock materials ourselves?

Plan A - Pre laid up materials
- How do we manage?
Plan B - Lay up the materials ourselves in our shop
- How do we manage?

Make a panel stock materials study.

With all these questions, I can’t keep it all straight in my head so I’m going to make a “Materials Study” in Cabinet Vision. What do I hope to accomplish with a Materials Study? I want to

be certain that I have identified all the unique panel stock materials needed for this job.
Be certain that I have all the materials in the Materials Manager for this job and
I need to be certain I have all the materials schedules properly built out for this job and
I need to be certain that the purchasing department will order all the necessary materials and quantities of materials correctly for this job.

Steps to make a materials study:

In the Materials manager, ensure that all pseudo materials exist so that they can be selected to use in the Materials Schedule manager. In this case, we’ll need various combinations of PL1, PL2, and PL3…single sided, double sided and mixed sides.

Opener

I have a laminate job coming up. The specs call for PL1, PL2 and PL3 and I gotta figure out how I’m going to manage the materials in terms of cost and in terms of buying prelaminated panels or making the panel stock by laying up the panels in-house....what that means to material management in Cabinet Vision and what that means to sending those materials to the CNC.

To help me figure this out, I generally make what I call a “Materials Study”. I’ll demonstrate how I make a Materials study and why I do that, and secondly, I’m going to demonstrate how to use composite materials and finally I’m going to discuss the pros and cons of using composite materials for this job. That’s what’s happening today on this episode of A Cabinet Vision Minute.

Video Author

Craftsman Woodworks Engineering

Video Tags

CV Minute

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Estimate Sheets of Material

Bruce Chezem — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 23:08:56 +0000

Estimate Sheets of Material Bruce Chezem Mon, 08/19/2024 - 16:08

Episode Number

069

Episode 069 of A Cabinet Vision Minute is about setting the Estimate Sheets of Material flag in the Bid Center.

If you use the Cost-Plus Bid Center or even if you don't use the Cost-Plus Bid Center and you're not using "Catalog Prices" for estimating your cabinet jobs, then watch this video. This could ~~save you~~ make you thousands of dollars on your next job.

The bottom line.... Check this box!

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A Cabinet Vision Minute on Patreon

https://Patreon.com/PeelingBackCabinetVision

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Shop Craftsman Engineering

https://Shop.CraftsmanEngineering.com

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Craftsman Engineering website

https://CraftsmanEngineering.com

Video Author

Craftsman Woodworks Engineering

Video Tags

CV Minute